Dan Meyer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dan Meyer put together a solid 12-year Major League Baseball career from 1974 to 1985, suiting up for three different American League teams. Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Meyer built a reputation as a reliable first baseman and a versatile player who could help his team both at the plate and in the field.

Meyer’s journey through Major League Baseball took him from the Detroit Tigers, where he debuted in 1974, to the expansion Seattle Mariners, and finally to the Oakland Athletics before he retired in 1985. His stats show a steady presence: 944 hits, 86 home runs, and 459 RBIs, with a .253 batting average in 1,118 games.

From his early days as a standout at Santa Ana College to his last game against the Yankees in May 1985, Meyer’s story really shows the path of a dedicated pro who squeezed the most out of his talent at baseball’s top level. You get a sense of the ups and downs of playing during a time of expansion and change in the majors.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Daniel Thomas Meyer was born August 3, 1952, in Hamilton, Ohio. He grew up in a military family, moving around a lot as a kid. His baseball journey started in high school, where he played third base before heading off to college baseball at a few different schools.

Birth and Family Background

Daniel Thomas Meyer entered the world on August 3, 1952, in Hamilton, Ohio, a suburb near Cincinnati. He was the only child of Thomas and Judy (Nichting) Meyer.

His dad, Tom, served as a US Navy officer and later became an electrical engineer at Beckman Instruments in Fullerton, California. His mom, Judy, stayed home during Dan’s childhood.

Like a lot of military families, the Meyers moved plenty when Dan was young. They lived in Florida, Tennessee, and San Diego before finally settling in Santa Ana, California after Tom left the Navy.

Dan’s dad really helped develop his baseball skills from the start. Tom would come home from work and take Dan outside to practice hitting. Sometimes, when they were short on time, they’d just hit Wiffle Balls in the driveway under the warm Santa Ana sun.

Dan showed off his hitting talent pretty early. He starred in the Sunset Little League in Santa Ana, and coaches and scouts quickly noticed his natural ability.

High School Years and Achievements

Meyer went to Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, where he was a standout third baseman. His play made him one of the school’s top athletes.

He graduated in 1970. That same year, Mater Dei honored him by putting him in their athletic hall of fame.

During high school, Dan’s hitting just kept getting better. All those hours practicing with his dad really started to pay off.

His success at Mater Dei brought interest from college programs. This attention mattered for his next step—college and more baseball.

College Baseball Experience

After high school, Dan’s dad pushed him to go to college instead of jumping straight into pro baseball. Dan wanted to stay close to his girlfriend, but he took a baseball scholarship at the University of Arizona.

At Arizona, he tried majoring in business, but he just didn’t care for it. He got pretty discouraged when they put him on the freshman team in spring 1971, so he decided to head home.

His dad was disappointed, and Dan later called that seven-hour drive back “the least pleasant experience of my life.” It made him rethink his baseball future.

Roger Wilson, the Santa Ana College baseball coach, invited Dan to play summer ball. After the summer, Wilson convinced him to enroll at Santa Ana College.

In 1972, Meyer took over as starting second baseman for the Santa Ana Dons. He put together a strong season that got the attention of a bunch of MLB scouts, including ones from the Angels and Dodgers.

That performance set him up for the 1972 MLB amateur draft, where his pro journey really began.

Detroit Tigers Professional Debut and Tenure

Dan Meyer’s road to the majors kicked off with big success in the Tigers’ minor league system. He won a batting title that made the organization take notice. He moved up quickly and debuted with the Tigers in 1974, spending three seasons showing he could play multiple positions.

Minor League Success

Meyer signed with the Tigers for $12,500 after they picked him in the fourth round of the 1972 draft. Scouts John Deutsch and John Hockenberry brought him in after his standout season at Santa Ana College.

His pro career almost ended before it started. “I struggled during the second spring training and about got released,” Meyer admitted. He didn’t start on Opening Day, but in the second game of a doubleheader—thanks to a rainout—he got his shot at third base.

That one chance changed everything. Meyer picked up three hits in that game and became a regular in the Bristol Tigers lineup for the rest of 1972.

With the Bristol Tigers in the Appalachian League, Meyer turned in one of the best rookie seasons around. He played 65 games, mostly at third base but also some at second.

He won the league batting title with a .396 average, almost catching Tony Oliva’s 1961 record of .410. That year, he took home the Silver Bat Award for the best average in Organized Baseball.

Meyer led Bristol in almost every offensive category: 93 hits, 14 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Topps named him the George M. Trautman Player of the Year for the Appalachian League.

The Tigers, impressed, sent him to the Florida Instructional League to see how he’d do against tougher pitching. He answered by winning another batting title with a .409 average, until a sprained ankle cut his season short in November.

MLB Debut with the Detroit Tigers

Meyer made his MLB debut on September 14, 1974, against the Yankees at Tiger Stadium. NBC aired the game nationally as the Game of the Week, so it was a pretty big stage for his first appearance.

He came in as a pinch-hitter for Aurelio Rodriguez in the bottom of the eighth. With a runner on first and one out, Meyer grounded into a fielder’s choice against Dick Tidrow.

His first big league start came a few days later, on September 20, 1974, against the Brewers. He got his first MLB hit—a single off Bill Champion—in the first inning.

Then, two innings later, he hit his first major league home run off Champion, a solo shot to right-center. Later in the seventh, he hit another solo homer, this time off Bill Travers.

He finished that game 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Not a bad way to start.

During his September call-up, Meyer played 13 games, batting .200 with three home runs and seven RBIs. The average wasn’t great, but the power display turned heads in Detroit.

Performance and Key Moments

The 1975 season was Meyer’s first full year with the Tigers. He started as the everyday left fielder, playing 73 of the first 82 games before a bad injury.

Meyer was hitting .267 with 5 home runs and 31 RBIs when he broke his foot scaling the left-field wall at Tiger Stadium. He was trying to catch a drive from Bill Stein of the White Sox.

The injury kept him out for almost a month. When he came back, the Tigers were in the middle of what would become a 19-game losing streak.

Still, Meyer managed a nice personal achievement in 1975. He led the American League with 18.8 at-bats per strikeout, making him one of the toughest players to strike out.

That knack for contact stuck with him his whole career. He finished with 13.48 at-bats per strikeout, better than a lot of Hall of Famers.

In 1976, Meyer’s playing time dropped. He started the year at first base but struggled, and the Tigers called up Jason Thompson from Triple-A.

After that, Meyer mostly backed up Alex Johnson in left field and Thompson at first, also pinch-hitting. He played 105 games, hitting .252 with 2 home runs and 16 RBIs.

Positions Played in Detroit

Meyer’s flexibility became a big asset for the Tigers. He mainly played first base and left field, but he also got some time at third base.

Left Field: Meyer spent a lot of time in left at Tiger Stadium, especially in 1975. That included the play where he broke his foot trying to rob a home run.

First Base: The Tigers used him at first base, especially after his 1975 injury. He started 1976 at first before Jason Thompson took over.

Third Base: Meyer played third in the minors and in high school, and the Tigers would put him there when they needed roster flexibility.

His ability to play multiple spots made him valuable for manager Ralph Houk. Meyer’s contact hitting and defensive flexibility gave Detroit options during his three years there.

Seattle Mariners: Expansion Team and Career Highlights

Dan Meyer became a cornerstone on the Seattle Mariners’ first roster after they picked him in the 1976 expansion draft. His best season came in 1977, when he drove in 90 runs and hit 24 homers as the everyday first baseman.

Selection in the MLB Expansion Draft

The Tigers made a costly mistake in the 1976 expansion draft. They left Meyer unprotected, thinking Seattle would take pitcher Frank MacCormack first. Instead, Seattle grabbed Meyer with the ninth overall pick.

Meyer had been told by manager Ralph Houk that he’d be back in Detroit the next year. “Ralph told me, ‘Don’t worry. You’re one of our guys,’” Meyer remembered. He’d already moved his family to Ypsilanti, Michigan, and found an offseason job.

He learned he was no longer a Tiger while driving home from racquetball with teammates. The news came over the radio—what a way to find out.

Seattle wanted power hitters in the draft, not pitchers. Meyer, a lefty with home run pop, fit that plan. He ended up sticking with the Mariners longer than any other original expansion pick.

Breakout 1977 Season: 90 RBI and Key Stats

Meyer’s 1977 season was easily the best of his career. He played a career-high 159 games and set personal bests all over the stat sheet. His 90 RBIs tied left fielder Leroy Stanton for the team lead.

1977 Season Statistics:

• Batting Average: .273
• Home Runs: 24
• RBI: 90
• Runs Scored: 75
• Stolen Bases: 11

That season didn’t start well, though. Meyer went hitless in the first two games, both shutouts at the hands of Frank Tanana and Nolan Ryan. After 21 scoreless innings, Meyer finally drove in the franchise’s first RBI on April 8 with a double off Gary Ross.

Even though he was just 25, Meyer never matched those numbers again. He was a major contributor during Seattle’s first season, holding down first base every day.

Position Versatility: First Base, Third Base, and Outfield

Meyer’s defensive flexibility helped the Mariners during his five years there. He mostly played first base, but he could handle other spots when needed. That versatility let managers adjust lineups for matchups or injuries.

Back in Detroit, Meyer had played third and left field, which came in handy in Seattle’s early, unpredictable years. The Mariners used his adaptability to fill defensive holes.

First base was always his best position, though, and he got most of his playing time there with Seattle. His steady glove backed up his offensive work during those early seasons.

Being able to move around the diamond kept Meyer in the lineup and made him valuable to the team. Seattle’s managers could use him in different roles without losing defensive stability.

Notable Seasons and Records Set

On May 3, 1977, Meyer pulled off something you just don’t see every day—he reached first base on catcher’s interference twice in one game against Boston. Carlton Fisk’s mitt smacked into Meyer’s bat in both the fifth and ninth innings, and the Mariners ended up winning 10-8 at Fenway Park.

Fisk thought Meyer was doing it on purpose, but Meyer just joked, “I’m hitting .179. I couldn’t hit it twice if I was trying.” Only six players in MLB history have managed that odd double.

Meyer’s 1978 season didn’t go smoothly. He strained his abdomen during batting practice in Cleveland, and that injury kept coming back throughout the year.

He was batting .179 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI when the team put him on the disabled list.

Meyer stuck with Seattle through the strike-shortened 1981 season. He once said about the team’s struggles, “Where Toronto kind of stepped up and stopped being an expansion team after four or five years, the Mariners continued with the label of ‘we’re still an expansion team.'”

Oakland Athletics and Final MLB Seasons

Meyer’s last MLB chapter kicked off with a trade to Oakland in December 1981. He spent four seasons with the A’s, taking on new roles as his career wound down. He retired in 1985.

Trade to Oakland

In December 1981, the Seattle Mariners traded Dan Meyer to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Rich Bordi. That move was a big change for Meyer, who had spent five years in Seattle.

Oakland wanted more veteran depth, and Meyer, at age 29, was heading into what would be the last phase of his big league career.

Meyer’s first year in Oakland looked promising. He hit .240 with 28 runs scored and 92 hits in 120 games in 1982.

The A’s used him mostly at first base, but he also played in right and left field.

He drove in 59 runs that year, so he still had something to offer with the bat. Meyer also served as the designated hitter in 38 games, so Oakland found creative ways to keep him in the lineup.

Roles Played: Pinch Hitter and Utility Man

As Meyer got older, Oakland changed how they used him. The A’s turned to him as a utility player and pinch hitter instead of an everyday starter.

His 1983 season was rough. Meyer batted just .189 with 32 hits in 69 games.

Even with those struggles, Oakland kept him around. His veteran presence and ability to cover multiple spots on the field made him useful for the team’s depth.

The A’s liked that Meyer could fill in at first base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. That flexibility mattered during the grind of a long season.

Manager Jackie Moore used Meyer in specific spots. Instead of expecting everyday numbers, they leaned on his experience when they needed it.

Concluding MLB Career and Retirement in 1985

Meyer’s final MLB seasons saw him play less and less. He started the 1984 season in the minors for the first time in a decade.

The A’s sent him to the Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. Meyer played well there, batting .293 with 134 hits in 124 games. That earned him a September call-up.

He made the most of his short return, hitting .318 with seven hits in 20 games.

Oakland brought him back on January 15, 1985. But that last season didn’t go his way—he went hitless in 12 at-bats, and the A’s released him on May 26.

Meyer played his last MLB game on May 24, 1985. He wrapped up his 12-year career with a .253 average, 86 home runs, and 459 RBIs in 1,118 games.

Performance Analysis and Career Statistics

Dan Meyer spent 12 seasons in the majors, finishing with a .253 batting average, 86 home runs, and 459 RBIs over 1,118 games. His defensive flexibility let him handle multiple positions, and his best years came with the Seattle Mariners from 1977 through 1981.

Offensive Achievements

Meyer’s offensive stats show steady production. He collected 944 hits in 4,032 plate appearances, keeping his strikeouts low at just 277 for his whole career.

His strongest year at the plate was 1977 with Seattle. Meyer hit .273, slugged 22 home runs, and drove in 90 runs, finishing with a .762 OPS. That season was the only time he posted an OPS+ above 100, topping out at 107.

In 1979, he hit .278 with 20 home runs and 74 RBIs. He racked up 146 hits that year, matching his 1980 total for a career best.

Key Offensive Statistics:

• Career batting average: .253
• Home runs: 86
• RBIs: 459
• Runs scored: 411
• Stolen bases: 61

Meyer drew 219 walks in his career, showing decent plate discipline. He managed to work counts and get on base, even when his average dipped in his Oakland years.

Defensive Versatility

Meyer’s ability to play different spots in the field helped him stick around. He played a lot at first base, third base, and left field.

His main spot was first base, where he played 223 games with Oakland from 1982 to 1985. He also spent plenty of time at third base during his Seattle days.

In left field, Meyer logged 634 innings in 1975 with Detroit. That year, his .951 fielding percentage sat below the league average of .977, but he got better with the glove as time went on.

Defensive Positions:

• First base: Main position with Oakland
• Third base: Regular duty with Seattle
• Left field: Notable time with Detroit

Teams liked that Meyer could move between the infield and outfield. His versatility kept him on rosters when managers needed options.

Year-by-Year Highlights (1980, 1981)

In 1980, Meyer stayed solid at the plate. He hit .275 with 146 hits in 146 games, mostly playing first and third base for Seattle. He added 11 home runs and 71 RBIs, finishing with a .721 OPS.

That season, Meyer made 570 plate appearances. He drew 31 walks and struck out just 42 times, showing off his contact skills. His 25 doubles and 6 triples added some extra-base punch.

The 1981 season got cut short by the strike, so Meyer played just 83 games. He batted .262 with 66 hits in 252 at-bats. His power numbers dropped, with only 3 home runs and 22 RBIs.

Even with fewer games, Meyer’s rate stats held steady. He posted a .636 OPS and played solid defense at several spots. That year was his last with Seattle before he headed to Oakland.

Both seasons showed Meyer could handle different defensive assignments and still provide offensive production in the middle of the Mariners’ lineup.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

Dan Meyer walked away from pro baseball in 1985 after 12 years in the majors. His career stretched from the Detroit Tigers, through the early days of the Seattle Mariners, and finally to the Oakland A’s. People remember him most as an original Mariner and a steady presence during the expansion era.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

Leaving MLB in 1985 meant Meyer had to figure out life after baseball, which isn’t easy. After his last season with Oakland, he faced the same challenge many athletes do—adjusting to a world without the structure and identity that the game gave him for so long.

That transition wasn’t simple. Like a lot of former players, Meyer had to rebuild his life outside the game.

In 1989, he tried a short comeback with the Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He batted .234 in 41 games, but it was clear his playing days were over.

Lots of former MLB players deal with the same thing—finding a new path after baseball.

Recognition and Honors

Meyer got most of his recognition from his early minor league success and his place in MLB expansion history. He captured the 1972 Silver Bat Award for the highest batting average in organized baseball, hitting .396 in the Appalachian League.

He also earned the Topps George M. Trautman Player of the Year award for the Appalachian League in 1972, a highlight from his first pro season.

In high school, Meyer made the Mater Dei athletic hall of fame in 1970, the year he graduated. That honor reflected his standout play as a third baseman at Santa Ana, California’s Mater Dei High.

Impact on MLB Expansion Teams

Meyer stands out in MLB expansion history as one of the original Seattle Mariners. The team picked him ninth overall in the 1976 expansion draft. He became the Mariners’ first regular first baseman and actually played longer with the team than any other original Mariner.

In 1977, Meyer hit .273, knocked 24 home runs, and drove in 90 runs. Those numbers were career highs for him and really helped the Mariners look like a team that could compete, even though they were brand new. On April 8, 1977, Meyer drove in Dave Collins with a fourth-inning double, recording the franchise’s first RBI.

He spent five seasons with Seattle between 1977 and 1981. During those early years, Meyer gave the team some much-needed stability.

You can really see, through his experience, how expansion drafts let new teams put together competitive rosters. Teams like the Mariners could pick up established players from other franchises, which definitely shaped the growth of professional baseball.